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Matlab

A Practical Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving

MATLAB: A Practical Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving discusses the basic programming concepts and skills needed for problem solving using MATLAB software. It is the… Read more

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Description

MATLAB: A Practical Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving discusses the basic programming concepts and skills needed for problem solving using MATLAB software. It is the only book that gives a full introduction to programming in MATLAB combined with an explanation of MATLAB’s powerful functions. The book differs from other texts in that it teaches programming concepts and the use of the built-in functions in MATLAB simultaneously. It presents programming concepts and MATLAB built-in functions side-by-side, giving students the ability to program efficiently and exploit the power of MATLAB to solve problems. The systematic, step-by-step approach, building on concepts throughout the book, facilitates easier learning.

Starting with basic programming concepts, such as variables, assignments, input/output, selection, and loop statements, problems are introduced and solved throughout the book. The book is organized into two parts. Part I covers the programming constructs and demonstrates programming versus efficient use of built-in functions to solve problems. Part II describes the applications, including plotting, image processing, and mathematics, needed in basic problem solving. The chapters feature sections called "Quick Question!" as well as practice problems designed to test knowledge about the material covered. Problems are solved using both "The Programming Concept" and "The Efficient Method," which facilitates understanding the efficient ways of using MATLAB, and also the programming concepts used in these efficient functions and operators. There are also sections on ‘common pitfalls’ and ‘programming guidelines’ that direct students towards best practice.

This book is ideal for engineers learning to program and model in MATLAB, as well as undergraduates in engineering and science taking a course on MATLAB.

Key features

  • Presents programming concepts and MATLAB built-in functions side-by-side, giving students the ability to program efficiently and exploit the power of MATLAB to solve problems
  • In depth coverage of file input/output, a topic essential for many engineering applications
  • Systematic, step-by-step approach, building on concepts throughout the book, facilitating easier learning
  • Sections on ‘common pitfalls’ and ‘programming guidelines’ direct students towards best practice

Readership

Engineers learning to program and model in Matlab. Undergraduates in engineering and science taking a course on MATLAB.

Table of contents

PrefacePart I Programming and Problem Solving Using MATLAB Chapter 1 Introduction to MATLAB 1.1 Getting into MATLAB 1.2 Variables and Assignment Statements 1.3 Expressions 1.4 Characters and Encoding 1.5 Vectors and Matrices Chapter 2 Introduction to MATLAB Programming 2.1 Algorithms 2.2 MATLAB Scripts 2.3 Input and Output 2.4 Scripts with Input and Output 2.5 Scripts to Produce and Customize Simple Plots 2.6 Introduction to File Input/Output (Load and Save) 2.7 User-Defined Functions that Return a Single Value Chapter 3 Selection Statements 3.1 Relational Expressions 3.2 The if Statement 3.3 The if-Else Statement 3.4 Nested if-Else Statements 3.5 The Switch Statement 3.6 The Menu Function 3.7 The is Functions in MATLAB Chapter 4 Looping 4.1 The for Loop 4.2 Nested for Loops 4.3 Vectorizing 4.4 While Loops Chapter 5 MATLAB Programs 5.1 More Types of User-Defined Functions 5.2 Matlab Program Organization 5.3 Application: Menu-Driven Modular Program 5.4 Variable Scope 5.5 Debugging Techniques Chapter 6 String Manipulation 6.1 Creating String Variables 6.2 Operations on Strings 6.3 The is Function for Strings 6.4 Converting between String and Number Types Chapter 7 Data Structures: Cell Arrays and Structures 7.1 Cell Arrays 7.2 Structures Chapter 8 Advanced File Input and Output 8.1 Lower Level File I/O Functions 8.2 Writing and Reading Spreadsheet Files 8.3 Using MAT-Files for Variables Chapter 9 Advanced Functions 9.1 Anonymous Functions 9.2 Uses of Function Handles 9.3 Variable Numbers of Arguments 9.4 Nested Functions 9.5 Recursive FunctionsPart II Applications Chapter 10 MATLAB Plots 10.1 Plot Functions 10.2 Animation 10.3 Three-Dimensional Plots 10.4 Customizing Plots 10.5 Graphics Properties 10.6 Plot Applications Chapter 11 Solving Systems of Linear Algebraic Equations 11.1 Matrix Definitions 11.2 Matrix Solutions to Systems of Linear Algebraic Equations 11.3 Symbolic Mathematics Chapter 12 Basic Statistics, Searching, and Sorting 12.1 Statistical Functions 12.2 Set Operations 12.3 Sorting 12.4 Indexing 12.5 Searching Chapter 13 Sights and Sounds 13.1 Sound Files 13.2 Introduction to Handle Graphics 13.3 Image Processing 13.4 Introduction to Graphical User Interfaces Chapter 14 Advanced Mathematics 14.1 Fitting Curves to Data 14.2 Complex Numbers 14.3 Calculus: Integration and DifferentiationIndex

Product details

About the author

DA

Dorothy C. Attaway

Stormy Attaway is on the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University. She has been the course coordinator for the Engineering Computation courses at Boston University for over thirty years and has taught a variety of programming courses using many different languages and software packages. She is a recipient of the Metcalf Cup and Prize, Boston University’s highest teaching award.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Director, Curricular Assessment and Improvement,College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA